Automatic sheet-feeding mechanism.



No. 640,709. Patented Jan. 2. E900. R. H. SCOTT & H. C. TEEL.

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

(Applicatio'n filed Jan. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.) ,2 Sheets-'Sheet l,

Patented Ian. 2, I900.

R. H. SCOTT &. H. C. TEEL. AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Jan. 8. 1898.\

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

5} IHII [N 1/5 [\Z T Uffi UM... *WW Ewma WZTNEEEEE UNITE STATES PATENTRICHARD H. SCOTT AND HENRY O. TEEL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

sPEcImcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,709, dated January2,1900.

Application filed January 8, 189 8- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD H. Scorr and HENRY O. TEEL, of Toledo,county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Sheet-Feeding Mechanism; and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference markedthereon,which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to paper-feeding mechanism of that class used inconnection with printing-presses for the general purpose of feeding asingle sheet of paper from a stack of sheets.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic sheet-feedingmechanism that shall be positive in the operation of periodicallyfeeding a single sheet of paper to a registering device or directly toan impression-cylinder.

In the branch of the art to which this invention belongs the paper isplaced upon a table vertically movable and automatically compensatingfor the number of sheets fed from the stack, the sheets being fedtherefrom by timed mechanism to rolls from which they are delivered tothe impression-cylinder. In this feeding operation it has too frequentlyoccurred that more than one sheet has been delivered to thefeeding-rolls, and consequently the printing-press, resulting in aninjury to the mechanism and a blank in printing. By ourimprovedmechanism we obviate this difficulty by providing frictionally-drivenrolls in compensating contact with drivingrolls, whereby the normalfeeding of one sheet results in a revolution of the upper and lowerfeeding-rolls. respectively, and by which an abnormal feed of more thanone sheet results in mechanically retarding the revolution of the drivenrolls. Consequently the delivery of more than one sheet to theimpression-cylinder is obviated by preventing the revolution of thefrictionally-driven rolls, thereby insuring the delivery of but thesingle sheet in contact with the driving-rolls. We have also providedplatens located on either side $eria1N'o. 666,021. (No model.)

and in advance of the carrier-belt and have secured upon the under sideof the platens adjustable springs adapted to be depressed when more thanone sheet is fed to the belt by the timed feeding-arm, and rollersjournaled in juxtaposition with the edge of the platens, whereby thefeeding of more than one sheet between the platens and rollers willcause the depression of the springs and cause the lower sheets to comein contact with gates formed by the edges or shoulders of the platensand be thereby retarded.

We have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the operating mechanism forthe feeding-table and the timed rectilinear reciprocating feeding-arm,as both devices are old and we make no claim to the same.

Our feeding mechanism is adapted for attachment to any printing-press,envelop-machine, ruling-machine, folder, &c.

We have attained the above-mentioned ob jects by a simplified form ofmechanism, as illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is anelevation, partly in section, showing the feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is arear'elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a detailed view ofa portion of the feed mechanism,,showing the frictional re-- tardingmechanism for the carrier-belt pulley. Fig. 5 shows the separating andfeeding rolls in their juxtaposition. Fig. 6 is adetail view, partly insection, of the frictional clutch mechanism shown in Fig. l. Fig. 7 is adetail sectional view showing the clutch at the end of arbor 6.

In carrying out our invention we employ a positively-driven arbor 1,which is journaled in bearings 2 and 3, and upon this arbor 1 there aresecured driving-rollers 4 and 5, having a resilient material securedupon their peripheries. In parallel alinement with the arbor 1 there isan arbor 6, journaled in compensating movable bearings 7 and 8, whichcause rollers 9 and 10, secured to the arbor 6, to be held in continualcontact with the positively-driven rollers 4: and 5, by which latterthey are driven. Upon the arbor 6, intermediate the rollers 9 and 10 andadapted to revolve with or independently of the arbor,there is mounted apulley 11, of a diameter substantially that of the rollers 9 and 10. Thepulley 11 has fixed thereto a projecting hub 12,

adapted to be engaged by an adjustable friction-clutch l3, encirclingthe hub 12, whereby the revolution of the pulley 11 may be retarded toany degree. Upon the pulley 11 there is mounted a carrier-belt 14:,which runs over a pulley 15, mounted upon an arbor 16, which isjournaled in the bearings 17 and located in advance of the arbor 6,adjacent the rear end of the feedtable. A disk or ring 18, is fixed uponthe end 19 of the arbor 6 and is encircled by an adj ustablefriction-clutch 20, which is stationarily held, as by bolt 20 enteringthe frame 42.

21 designates a vertically-movable feed-table adapted to support a stackof paper, from which the upper sheet is fed to the rollers andcarrier-belt 14 by means of a timed rectilinear reciprocating feeder arm22, which pushes the sheet toward the separating-rollers and holds thesheet until the rollers take hold thereof.

A sheet being fed to the separating-rollers will enter between rollers 45 and 9 10 and cause the frictionally-driven rollers 9 and 10 to revolvesimultaneously with the positively driven rollers t and 5. Should morethan one sheet be fed by the feeding-arm 22 between the driving anddriven rollers, the arbor 6 will be pressed downward in its compensatingbearings and cause the ring 18, secured thereto to engage thestationarily-held friction-clutch 20, which will retard the movement ofthe arbor 6, and consequently the pulley l1 and carrier-belt 14, mountedupon the arbor 6, which will cause the retardation of the subjacentsheet by remaining station ary While the upper sheet is delivered to theimpression-cylinder or registering device by the positively-drivenrollers at and 5, which cause it to slide over the subjacent sheet. Thelatter is then delivered by the revolution of both rollers. The pulley11 is also retarded in a similar manner by its hub 12 being forced intocontact with the friction device 13.

As a further precaution against feeding more than one sheet we haveprovided platens 23 and 24, located upon either side of theseparating-belt, and secured to the under side of the platen are springs25, being bent upward near the end 26 of the platen and curved downwardand adapted to be depressed, as shown in Fig. 5. The springs 25 areadjustable to any tension by means of screw-bolts 27. Slightly inadvance of the gate formed by the edge 26 of the platen and verticallyabove there is journaled a driven arbor 28 in the bearings 20 and S0 andhaving mounted thereon feed-rollers 3 1 and 82, adjacent the platens 23and 2e. The rollers 31 and 32 are in parallel alinement with the platens23 and 24, as shown in Fig. 5. The distance between the periphery of theroller and the platen is such as to allow the free passage of one sheetof paper; but should more than one sheet be fed the springs 25 will bedepressed and the subjacent sheet or sheets will come in con tact withthe edge 26 of the platen and be held or retarded, preventing therebythe feeding of l being indicated by arrows.

4O designates collars mounted on the arbor 6 and adapted to secure thepulley 11 in post tion.

In Fig. 1 we have illustrated a separating mechanism in accordance withthe foregoing description, showing the rollers and platens in theirjuxtaposition with the top of the stack of paper upon the feeding-table,and we may provide a series of separating mechanisms progressively inthe line of feeding, whereby the sheets are passed through a series ofseparating-rollers before being fed to the impression-oylinder. We mayalso construct a feeding mechanism without being provided with gates andseparate the sheets by means of retardingall butasinglesheetbyfriction.The adjustable bearings wherein the arbor 6 is journaled are located inthe housings 41, formed in the frames i2 and i3, and have springs 44:interposed betweenthe under side of the bearings and the housings,thereby allowing a vertically-compensating movement of the arbor.

It will be evident from the foregoing that when more than a single sheetis delivered between the driving and driven rollers the pressure uponthe rollers 9 and 10 is such that the arbor 6 will be moved and causethe ring 18 and hub 12 to engage the friction devices 20 and 13,attached to the driven arbor 6, which will retard the arbor, with theresult before stated. It will also be seen from the forego ing that wehave devised a simple and inexpensive feeding and separating mechanism,and by mounting the arbor 6 in adjustable boxes any thickness of paperis compensated for. The friction devices or clutches are also madeadjustable in any preferred manner to retard the revolution of thedriven rollers to any extent.

. What We claim is- 1. In an automatic sheet-feeding mechan ism, thecombination of a roller secured upon a driving-arbonmeans forintermittently feeding a sheet of paper to said roller, a driven arborin parallel relation thereto, having secured thereto a roller adapted tobe driven by the roller secured to the driving-arbor, a friction deviceadapted to retard the revolution of the driven roller, whereby a singlesheet causes the revolution of both the driving and driven rollers, andthe sheet pressed upon by the driving-roller is delivered to theimpression-cylinder while the surplus of sheets is held by the peripheryof the retarded roller, and means for revolving the driving-roller,substantially as described.

2. In an automatic sheet-feeding mechanism, aplurality ofseparating-rollers mounted on a driving and a driven arbor, means forintermittently feeding a sheet of paper thereto, the arbors beingjournaled in an attachable frame, means for retarding the drivenrollers, a pulley mounted upon the driven arbor adapted to be retardedby friction, abelt upon said pulley, and a pulley which is journaled inadvance of the driven arbor, the belt being in alinement with the lineof feed of the sheets of paper, and the belt being adapted to carry asheet to the separating and feeding rolls.

3. In an automatic sheet-feeding mechanism, a plurality ofseparating-rollers mounted upon a driving and driven arbor, means forintermittently feeding a sheet thereto, apulley mounted upon the drivenarbor, means for retarding the revolution of the pulleyby friction,separate means for retarding the revolution of the driven arbor, a journ al-box movably held in pockets formed in a frame, and means adaptedto press the driven rollers against the driving-rollers whereby thethickness of paper is compensated for.

4. In amautomatic sheet-feeding mechanrollers mounted upon an arborjournaled in,

the frame, mechanism in juxtaposition with the edge of the platenswherebya sheet is allowed to pass freely between the roller and theplaten, springs secured to the under side of the platens adapted to bedepressed when a plurality of sheets are fed to the roller and platen,whereby the adjacent sheets come in A contact with the edge of theplaten and are retarded thereby.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we hereby affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. SCOTT HENRY C. TEEL.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM WEBSTER, HERMAN H. MARTIN.

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 640,709.

DISCLAIMER.

640,709.Richard -H. Scott and Henry C. Teel, Toledo, Ohio. IMPROVEMENTIN Auro- MATIO SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM. Patent dated January 2, 1900.Disclaimer filed November 3, 1900, by said patentees.

Enter their disclaimer Of claim 1 of said Letters Patent, which claim isin the following words:

1. In an automatic sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination of a rollersecured upon a driving-arbor, means for intermittently feeding a sheetof paper to said roller, a driven arbor in parallel relation thereto,having secured thereto a roller adapted to be driven by the rollersecured to the driving-arbor, a friction device adapted to retard therevolution of the driven roller, whereby a single sheet causes therevolution of both the driving and driven rollers, and the sheet pressedupon by the driving-roller is delivered to the impression-cylinder whilethe surplus of sheets is held by the periphery of the retarded roller,and means for revolving the driving-roller, substantially as described.Ofiicial Gazette, November 13, 1900.]

